Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Your situation raises difficult questions about the law of bailments (in California, now called "deposits" for some mysterious reason known only to our Legislature) relating to animals. This is a very specialized area of the law, and I only have marginal knowledge that there are special provisions - paragraphs of them - because they have been engrafted upon the otherwise fairly clear and straightforward Civil Code provisions regarding bailm... excuse me, deposits. These provisions are clearly designed to protect animal rights, not the rights of the dumper or the dumpee of the animal. As I said, I have not studied the deposit-of-animals provisions. I do believe, however, that ownership of the dog will NOT change merely because you have been paying costs of care in excess of the agreed periodic fee. More likely, you have a small-claims type cause of action against the owner. The folks who run animal shelters full time probably have a working knowledge of this area of the law and may be able to advise you, or at least direct you to an attorney with the requisite experience.